Cherry tree named ‘Arvin Bruce’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a cherry tree,  Prunus avium , and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium size, moderately vigorous, hardy, self-unfruitful, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in early May, with first picking on May 3, 2014. The fruit is uniformly medium to large in size, very good in flavor, somewhat oblate in shape, freestone in type, moderately firm in texture, heat tolerant, red to yellowish pink in flesh color, deep red in skin color, and it has a medium length stem that is strongly attached to the fruit.

Botanical classification: Prunus avium.

Varietal denomination: ‘ARVIN BRUCE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we,the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine,plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. We also grow a smallernumber of open pollinated seeds of each of these fruits, usually tocapture recessive traits. The present invention relates to a new anddistinct variety of cherry tree, which has been denominated varietallyas ‘Arvin Bruce’.

During a typical blooming season we isolate as seed parents individualcherry trees by covering them with screen houses. A hive of bees isplaced inside each such house, and bouquets to provide pollen fromdifferent cherry trees are placed in buckets near the treesapproximately every two days for the duration of the bloom. During 2002one such house containing ‘Glenred’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,859) cherrytree was crossed by us in this manner. To pollinate this cherry, weselected bouquets from several sources of cherry trees without keepingspecific written details. Upon reaching maturity the fruit from thischerry tree was harvested and the seeds were removed, cracked,stratified and germinated as a group with the label ‘Glenred House’.They were grown as seedlings on their own root in our greenhouse, andupon reaching dormancy transplanted to a cultivated area of ourexperimental orchard located near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (SanJoaquin Valley). During the summer of 2008 the claimed variety wasselected by us as a single tree from the group of seedlings describedabove. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of cherry tree,we asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimentalorchard described above, and such reproductions were true to theoriginal tree in all respects. The reproduction of the variety includedthe use of ‘Colt’ (unpatented) rootstock, upon which the present varietywas compatible and true to type.

The present variety is most similar to its seed parent, ‘Glenred’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 12,859) cherry, by being self-unfruitful, by bloomingduring the early season, by having reniform glands, by being productive,and by producing fruit that is full red in skin color, somewhat oblatein shape, moderately firm, sweet, and fairly crack resistant, but isdistinguished therefrom by producing cherries that are somewhat largerin size, that are a lighter red in flesh color, that are fully freestoneinstead of semi-freestone, that ripen about five days earlier, and thathave stems that are more strongly attached.

The present variety is also similar to ‘Glenrock’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.15,512) cherry by being self-unfruitful, by blooming during the earlyseason, by having reniform glands, by being productive, and by producingfruit that is full red in skin color, that is partially red in fleshcolor, that is oblate in shape, that is somewhat freestone in type, thatis sweet in flavor, and that has a medium length stem with strongattachment, but is distinguished therefrom by producing cherries thatare somewhat larger in size, that are not quite as firm, and that ripenabout 10 days earlier.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

In summary, the present cherry variety is characterized by a mediumsize, moderately vigorous, hardy, self-unfruitful, productive andregular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditionsdescribed in early May, with first picking on May 3, 2014. The fruit isuniformly medium to large in size, very good in flavor, somewhat oblatein shape, freestone in type, moderately firm in texture, heat tolerant,red to yellowish pink in flesh color, deep red in skin color, and it hasa medium length stem that is strongly attached to the fruit.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph displays three fruits with the stemsattached, four whole fruits detached from the stems to exhibit the skincolor and form, two half fruits sectioned to reveal the flesh andfibers, an individual stone, two insets depicting flowers and buds, atypical tip shoot, and several leaves, all typical of the subjectvariety.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of cherry tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at thestate of firm ripe on May 6, 2014, on the original tree during itstwelfth growing season. All major color code designations are byreference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau ofStandards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

It is to be noted that 2014 was an abnormal year with drought conditionsexisting in California. The unusually clear, warm, and dry weather inJanuary led to a very low amount of acquired chilling units, an earlierthan normal blooming season, and an earlier than normal ripening seasonfor the entire spring and summer.

PARENTAGE

-   Seed parent: ‘Glenred’ cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,859).-   Pollen parent: Unknown.

TREE

-   Size: Medium, maintained to a height of 11′ [3.35 m.] and a spread    of 6′ [1.83 m.] after twelve growing seasons utilizing typical    pruning.-   Vigor: Medium vigor, responding typically to irrigation and    fertilization. The tree should be grown on a standard commercial    rootstock for production purposes.-   Growth: Upright and medium dense.-   Form: Central leader.-   Hardiness: Hardy with respect to central California winters.-   Heat tolerance: Observed to perform adequately in both central    California and southern San Joaquin Valley climatic conditions,    which typically include extended periods of heat.-   Drought tolerance: Variety is developed for commercial orchards and    requires regular irrigation.-   Production: Productive.-   Fertility: Self-sterile, must be cross pollinated by another early    seasonal blooming cherry variety, such as ‘Sweet Fruitful’ (U.S.    Plant Pat. No. 21,926).-   Bearing: Regular bearer, with no crop failures observed.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 3¾″ [95.3 mm.]            after the twelfth growing season.        -   Texture.—Medium smooth.        -   Bark color.—A Dark grayish reddish brown [47. d.gy.rBr] and            Light brownish gray [63. l.brGy] variegation.        -   Lenticels.—Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 8. Color:            Deep yellowish brown [75. deep yBr]. Average Size: Length is            7/16″ [11.1 mm.] with a width of ⅛″ [3.2 mm.]. Shape:            Eye-shaped, elongated.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Diameter of main scaffold measured 12″ above the first            hanger is 2½″ [63.5 mm.].        -   Texture.—Smooth on first and second year wood, increasing            roughness with age.        -   Color.—1st Year Wood topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st            Year Wood underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].            2nd Year Wood: Strong brown [55. s.Br]. 3rd Year and Older            Wood: Grayish reddish brown [46. gy.rBr].        -   Lenticels.—Number Per Square Inch: About 14 on second year            wood. Color: Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr]. Average            Size: ⅛″ [3.2 mm.] in length and 1/32″ [0.8 mm.] in width on            second year wood. Shape: Elongated.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Large. Average Length: 5¾″ [146.1 mm.]. Average Width:            2⅝″ [66.7 mm.].        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Form.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG].            Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].        -   Margin.—Finely serrate.        -   Venation.—Pinnately net veined.        -   Vein color.—Light yellow green [119. l.YG].        -   Petiole.—Average Length: 1½″ [38.1 mm.]. Average Thickness:            3/32″ [2.4 mm.]. Color: Dark grayish red [20. d.gy.R] on the            topside, Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG] on the            underside.        -   Stipules.—Number: 2 per leaf at development stage. Average            Length: ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Color: Grayish purplish red [262.            gy.pR] toward the base, Light yellow green [119. l.YG]            toward the apex. Surface: Smooth.        -   Glands.—Number: 2 to 4 per leaf. Position: Usually occurring            in alternate pairs on the petiole near the base of leaf            blade. Size: Large, about 3/64″ [1.2 mm.] in length. Form:            Reniform. Color: Deep red [13. deep R] toward the center,            Light orange [52. l.O] around the sides.        -   Leaf buds.—Pointed, medium.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Hardiness.—Hardy, with respect to central California            winters.        -   Diameter.—Typically 5/16″ [7.9 mm.] 3 days before bloom.        -   Length.—Typically ⅝″ [15.9 mm.] 3 days before bloom.        -   Form.—Free, not touching.        -   Surface.—Non-pubescent.        -   Tip color.—White [263. White].-   Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil,    typically about twenty stamens, five sepals and petal locations    alternately positioned.    -   -   Average flower diameter.—1 7/16″ [36.5 mm.].        -   Average flower depth.—½″ [12.7 mm.] when fully open.        -   Number of petals.—Usually five, extra petals or fragments            rarely observed.        -   Petal arrangement.—Overlapping.        -   Petal shape.—Circular to slightly oval.        -   Petal margin.—Somewhat wavy with occasional serrations.        -   Average petal diameter.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].        -   Average petal length.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].        -   Petal apex.—Rounded with a small notch on some.        -   Petal base.—Rounded to somewhat cuneate.        -   Petal color.—White [263. White] on both sides.        -   Anther color.—Pale yellow [89. p.Y].        -   Pollen.—Anthers produce a moderate amount of Brilliant            yellow [83. brill.Y] pollen.        -   Stigma color.—Light greenish yellow [101. l.gY].        -   Stigma position.—Typically located about even with the            nearby anthers.        -   Ovary.—Non-pubescent.        -   Sepal color.—Deep reddish orange [36. deep rO] over Vivid            greenish yellow [97. v.gY] on the outer surface. The inner            surface is Pale yellow green [121. p.YG].        -   Sepal outer surface.—Pubescent.        -   Sepal length.—¼″ [6.4 mm.].        -   Sepal width.— 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].        -   Sepal apex.—Rounded to elliptical to match the sepal length            and width.        -   Sepal margin.—Fairly smooth.        -   Average pistil length.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].        -   Average stamen length.— 9/16″ [14.3 mm.].        -   Fragrance.—Moderate.        -   Bloom density.—Heavy.        -   Blooming period.—Early, blooms at the same time as ‘Glenred’            (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,859).        -   Onset of bloom.—One percent on Mar. 8, 2014.        -   Date of full bloom.—Mar. 19, 2014.        -   Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient            temperature.        -   Number per cluster.—Usually 2 to 8, 5 average.

FRUIT

-   Maturity when described: Firm ripe, May 6, 2014.-   Date of first picking: May 3, 2014.-   Date of last picking: May 11, 2014.-   Size: Uniform, medium to large.    -   -   Average diameter axially.—1″ [25.4 mm.].        -   Average diameter across suture plane.—1 1/16″ [27.0 mm.].        -   Average diameter across cheek plane.—1 5/16″ [33.3 mm.].        -   Typical weight.—0.48 ounces [13.6 grams].-   Form: Uniform, somewhat oblate, most are compressed axially and    around the suture.    -   -   Axial view form.—Elliptical.        -   Suture plane form.—Oval to round.        -   Cheek plane form.—Oblate.-   Suture: An inconspicuous line located in a shallow trough, extending    from the base to the pistil point.-   Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped slightly throughout.-   Lips: Mostly equal.-   Cavity: Flaring, circular, suture showing on one side.    -   -   Depth.—⅛″ [3.2 mm.].        -   Breadth.—½″ [12.7 mm.].-   Base: Rounded if viewed in the suture plane, slightly cordate if    viewed parallel to the suture.-   Apex: Rounded if viewed in the suture plane, somewhat cordate if    viewed parallel to the suture.-   Pistil point: A Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr] inconspicuous dot.-   Stem: Medium.    -   -   Average length.—1 9/16″ [39.7 mm.].        -   Average diameter.— 1/16″ [1.6 mm.].-   Stem attachment: Strong.-   Skin:    -   -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to the flesh.        -   Astringency.—Moderate.        -   Tendency to crack.—None observed in dry seasons, fairly            resistant to cracking in wet season.        -   Color.—Very deep red [14. v.deep R] over a Vivid red [11.            v.R] background.-   Flesh:    -   -   Color.—Light yellowish pink [28. l.yPk] with Moderate red            [15. m.R] streaking and flecking throughout, Pale orange            yellow [73. p.OY] fibers visible.        -   Surface of pit cavity.—Covered with Pale yellowish pink [31.            p.yPk] fibers.        -   Amygdalin.—Moderate.        -   Juice.—Abundant, somewhat watery.        -   Juice color.—Vivid red [11. v.R].        -   Texture.—Moderately firm, melting.        -   Fibers.—Abundant, thick.        -   Ripens.—Fairly even, slightly earlier at the apex.        -   Heat tolerance.—Observed to remain firm during extended            periods of heat prior to and during the harvest season.        -   Flavor.—A balance of acid and sugar, typically 18 to 20            brix.        -   Aroma.—Slight.        -   Eating quality.—Very good.

STONE

-   Type: Freestone.-   Form: Oval.-   Hilum: Narrow, oval.-   Base: Rounded.-   Apex: Rounded.-   Sides: Equal.-   Surface: Fairly smooth.-   External color of stone: Light orange yellow [70. l.OY] when first    removed.-   Pit wall color when cracked: Pale yellow [89. p.Y].-   Cavity surface color: Pale orange yellow [73. p.OY].-   Average pit wall thickness: 1/16″ [1.6 mm.].-   Average width: ⅜″ [9.5 mm.].-   Average length: ⅜″ [9.5 mm.].-   Average breadth: 5/16″ [7.9 mm.].-   Tendency to split: None observed.-   Kernel:    -   -   Form.—Oval.        -   Skin color.—Yellowish white [92. yWhite] when first removed.        -   Pellicle color.—Grayish yellow [90. gy.Y].        -   Vein color.—Grayish yellow [90. gy.Y].        -   Taste.—Bitter.        -   Viable.—Yes.        -   Average width.—¼″ [6.4 mm.].        -   Average length.—¼″ [6.4 mm.].        -   Amygdalin.—Abundant.

USE

-   Market: Fresh market and long distance shipping.-   Keeping quality: Good, fruit quality observed to remain in good    condition after 21 days in standard cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2°    Celsius].-   Shipping quality: Good.-   Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.-   Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

OTHER NOTES

Although the new variety of cherry tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of cherry tree, substantially asillustrated and described, that is most similar to its seed parent,‘Glenred’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,859) cherry, by being self-unfruitful,by blooming during the early season, by having reniform glands, by beingproductive, and by producing fruit that is full red in skin color,somewhat oblate in shape, moderately firm, sweet, and fairly crackresistant, but is distinguished therefrom by producing cherries that aresomewhat larger in size, that are a lighter red in flesh color, that arefully freestone instead of semi-freestone, that ripen about five daysearlier, and that have stems that are more strongly attached.